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Buying a New TV?

Going out and looking for a new TV is not what it used to be. Of course, since this was the first time I actually bought a TV instead of just inheriting a used one, I really don’t know what the old way was. But I’ve heard stories, and I expected a fairly easy experience.

I first decided to get myself a new TV after a great month here at SoftLayer. I figured it was high time I rewarded myself with the biggest and best picture money could buy. I went to Best Buy thinking there can’t be that much to look at in TVs. Man was I wrong. I literally spent more than three and a half hours staring at all the TVs they have on display. I even talked with one of the guys that are supposed to “help you,” but all that did was make me more confused. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted, big TV with a crystal clear picture. But after wasting all that time, I left Best Buy confused and empty handed.

I knew there had to be a better way to choose a new TV than staring at the store display until I was cross-eyed. When I got home I started a 2-week research project to find the perfect TV for me. I read all sorts of blogs, forums, and recommendations online. In those 2 weeks I compared all aspects of all the TVs that are available. I found out that there are currently 4 types of TVs on the market: DLP, Plasma, LCD, and LED. I knew DLP wasn’t the way to go, because it is becoming an extinct technology for TVs as LCD and LEDs are the newer types of TVs. Plasmas are also becoming a dying type of technology but every person I talked to and all my research said Plasma TV gives you the best picture hands down. So, naturally I started leaning towards Plasmas. But while there are advantages to Plasmas, there are disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage with a Plasma TV is the risk of “burn-in” on the screen. This is when you leave a still image on the screen for a long time and the plasma burns a ghost image on the screen. This could become annoying if you were to change channels and you still have the score of a game on the top corner. In the newer models this “burn-in” issue is almost completely gone. It still could happen; but, that is if you leave an image on your TV for over 2 hours, and really who does that anyway?

After an exhaustive look at all the reviews, forum, and searches on the best TV, I finally came to a decision. I was going to buy myself a new Plasma TV and that was that. Sunday I got in my car and went back to Best Buy. This time I was prepared so I walked right up to one of the guys and talked with him for the better part of an hour. I asked a few more questions and then decided I was going with the 50” Panasonic Plasma TV. Once I made the purchase and figured the hard part was over, Best Buy Guy, asks me how I was planning to get my new TV home. Our conversation goes a little like this, with him laughing at me the whole time:

Best Buy Guy: So how are you getting this TV to your house?

Me: I was hoping we could put it in the back seat of my car, will that not work?

Best Buy Guy: (with a smirk on his face) We can try, but I doubt it.

Me: Well doesn’t Best Buy deliver?

Best Buy Guy: Yes, we do. It’s free if your purchase is over $1,000.00

Me: (My TV cost me total $1070 with warranty, so I’m thinking no problem, right.) Ok well can I have it delivered then?

Best Buy Guy: Sure, not a problem. It will be about 2 weeks from now.

Me: Are you serious?

Best Buy Guy: Yea, I am.

Me: Well, I was hoping to be watching it today. What else is there?

Best Buy Guy: Well you could call a friend who has a SUV or truck. Or you could go to Lowe’s across the street and rent one of their trucks for $20 for 75 minutes.

Me: Well, let’s try fitting it in the back of my car first.

Best Buy Guy: (With a smirk on his face) Sure.

I move my car to the front of the store and we try to get it in the back but sure enough Best Buy Guy knows what he is talking about and it doesn’t fit. So what is a guy who wants his TV now to do since they won’t deliver it for 2 weeks? I went over to Lowe’s and rented a truck. Cost me $20.80 for the whole 10 min that I used it, but I figured waiting another 2 weeks for my TV was not an option. I drove this big ass truck over to Best Buy and had the guys load my TV in the back. It was about this time I realized I didn’t have any straps or string to hold the TV secure while I drove home. One of the guys who loaded it in the back told me, “If you just don’t gas it hard the TV should be fine.” I just looked at this guy thinking, “Yea that’s really going to work.” I asked them if they have any string. The guy tells they can’t give me any because if they give me string and it breaks, and the TV breaks, then they are liable for the string breaking. Funny how they cover their ass over string; STRING! As I was trying to figure out how I was going to get this TV home with the load boy staring at me, I saw a piece of string that was already tied to the truck. It was a small white string tied in knots to the corner of the truck. I asked the guy to put some slits in the corner of the top of the box so I could use this one piece of string on the corner to keep it from falling. He did and eventually I got my TV to my house, going 15mph the whole way home.

I love my new TV, once I got it home, but I have never been so frustrated tying to buy and move a TV, and I hope I never have to do this again….until either the TV goes out or I decided to buy a bigger one! This was an experience I encourage everyone to try at least once. My advice is to do your research before going to the store, and have a truck or SUV to be able to move it from the store to your home. And be sure to bring your own string!